Honeybee Pollination Research Articles

Enhancing Strawberry Productivity through Bee Pollination

Bees play a vital role in strawberry pollination, for fruit quality and increased productivity. Greenhouse experiments were conducted at the National Beekeeping Institute, in collaboration with EU-AU Sponsored ICIPE Bee Health Project. Using honeybee pollinators increased super quality fruits (84% total). Harvested industry fruits were absent in the open field plants, outside the greenhouse, with multi-pollinators. These, however, greatly reduced in the harvested fruits, inside the greenhouse (4.3% total), with the honeybee as the sole pollinator, demonstrating the superiority of the latter in enhancing strawberry productivity through pollination.

Modeling the Interaction Dynamics between Honeybees and Food Availability

The success of honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies is critical to the United States agriculture with 35% of American diets dependent on honeybee pollination. There are various complex factors that can contribute to a colony’s failure, such as nutritional stress. Nutritional stressors primarily pertain to food scarcity, lack in diversity of food, and the availability of food with low nutritional value. In this work, we use a mathematical model to investigate the impact of food scarcity and limited storage space on honeybee viability, early recruitment rates of workers into foragers, and the influence of these rates on the growth of a colony. Social inhibition of honeybee pollination is described through the role change between foragers and workers. A threshold was found for conditions when a colony persists or collapses. We obtained conditions for the coexistence of a honeybee population and food supply as well as coexistence conditions in fluctuation fashion. Our sensitivity analysis showed that a honeybee colony is most sensitive to changes in the rate at which a worker bee encounters food and the rate food is entering the food supply.

The honeybee Apis mellifera contributes to Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus spread via pollination

The tobamovirus Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) is efficiently transmitted between plants by mechanical contact. So far, no clear evidence has been reported regarding the transmission potential of the virus by beneficial pollinator insects. This study examined the capability of the well‐known pollinator honeybee Apis mellifera to transmit CGMMV in cucurbits using melon and cucumber plants as a model. In order to provide a clear answer to that question, five experiments were designed on various scales performed under three environmental conditions. The results show that under protected cropping conditions, CGMMV is transmitted by the honeybees. The location of the beehive in relation to both the CGMMV primary inoculum source and the healthy plants during honeybee foraging plays an important role in the efficiency of CGMMV spread. Furthermore, in the presence of early stage CGMMV‐inoculated plants, the efficiency of CGMMV spread to uninoculated plants placed on the honeybees’ path to the beehive may increase. To the authors’ knowledge, CGMMV transmission by honeybees has not yet been shown, and this study can be adopted for other tobamovirus related research.

The Synergistic Effects of Almond Protection Fungicides on Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Forager Survival

The honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) contributes ∼$17 billion annually to the United States economy, primarily by pollinating major agricultural crops including almond, which is completely dependent on honey bee pollination for nut set. Almond growers face constant challenges to crop productivity owing to pests and pathogens, which are often controlled with a multitude of agrochemicals. For example, fungicides are often applied in combination with other products to control fungal pathogens during almond bloom. However, the effects of fungicides on honey bee health have been so far understudied. To assess the effects of some of the top fungicides used during the 2012 California almond bloom on honey bee forager mortality, we collected foragers from a local apiary and exposed them to fungicides (alone and in various combinations) at the label dose, or at doses ranging from 0.25 to 2 times the label dose rate. These fungicides were Iprodione 2SE Select, Pristine, and Quadris. We utilized a wind tunnel and atomizer set up with a wind speed of 2.9 m/s to simulate field-relevant exposure of honey bees to these agrochemicals during aerial application in almond fields. Groups of 40-50 foragers exposed to either untreated controls or fungicide-laden treatments were monitored daily over a 10-d period. Our results showed a significant decrease in forager survival resulting from exposure to simulated tank mixes of Iprodione 2SE Select, as well as synergistic detrimental effects of Iprodione 2SE Select in combination with Pristine and Quadris on forager survival.

Qualitative enhancement of cucumber with bee (Apis cerana) pollination at Nagaland

The role of honey bees (Apis cerana L.) pollination in enhancing the quality of cucumber crop was studied during April-June 2013 at the Entomology experimental farm, SASRD, Medziphema, Nagaland. The quality of cucumber vines in treatments caged with and without bees, with attractants (jaggery and sugar solution), and untreated control was evaluated in Randomized Block Design (RBD). The five treatments were replicated four times and named; T1: plot caged with bee, T2: plot caged without bee/control, T3, plot open without attractant, T4: plot open treated with jaggery solution @ 10% and T5: plot open treated with sugar solution @ 10%. It was observed that number of female flowers showed non-significant difference among the treatments. Fruit % was high in plot caged with bee (51.5%) and the least without bee (18.7). Normal fruits/vine were the highest when caged with bee (19.1) as against 5.3 in control. The length and width of the fruits was also more in plots caged with bees. There was no significant difference in the moisture content in fruits.

Productivity of Tomato in the Greenhouse Using Bee Pollination

A green house was installed in October 2014. The aim was to increase tomato productivity in the greenhouse using bee pollination. The tomato plant and fruits in the greenhouse were healthier than those in the open field, attaining a maximum weight of 410 gms, for the tomato. The fruit means were: 213 and 162 gms for the inside and outside, respectively. This was highly significant (t=5.39; df=744.2; p<0.001). Similarly, the average weights of the first tomato fruits on each branch were: 117gms and 110 gms in the greenhouse and open field, respectively. The maximum number of fruits per branch in the greenhouse was eleven fruits whereas those on the outside plot were eight. Thus, productivity was higher in the greenhouse plants, with a longer production period, compared to the plants on the outside plot, due to honeybee pollination. Both the greenhouse and outside field plot tomatoes were affected by the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta, with time, curtailing further fruit production.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) seed yield in relation to phosphorus fertilization and honeybee pollination.

This investigation was conducted at the Agricultural and Veterinary Training and Research Station, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, during the alfalfa growing season in 2014. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of phosphorus fertilization and honeybee pollination on alfalfa seed production. The experiment was divided into 9 treatments of open pollination, honeybee pollination, and non-pollination with three different levels (0, 300 or 600 kg P2O5/ha/year) of triple super phosphate. All vegetative growth attributes of Hassawi alfalfa were significantly higher in the non-insect pollination plots, while the yield and yield component traits were significantly higher with either open pollination or honeybee pollination in parallel with the increasing level of phosphorus fertilizer up to 600 kg P2O5/ha/year in light salt-affected loamy sand soils. There was no seed yield in Hassawi alfalfa without insect pollination. Therefore, placing honeybee colonies near the fields of Hassawi alfalfa and adding 600 kg P2O5/ha/year can increase seed production.

Melon fruit sugar and amino acid contents are affected by fruit setting method under protected cultivation

This study investigated the effect of different fruit setting methods on fruit quality of melon (Cucumis melo L.) under protected cultivation. The results showed that artificial and honey bee pollination decreased single fruit weight compared with 1-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-3-phenylurea (CPPU) treatment, whereas the lowest value was observed in artificial pollination. Artificial and honey bee pollination apparently increased sucrose content, and the increased activity of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) was the key reason. In addition, total content of amino acids (17 kinds) were increased by 31% and 28% in artificial and honey bee-pollinated fruits compared with CPPU treatment, respectively. Honey bee pollination also improved single fruit weight and taste compared with artificial pollination. Therefore, we can conclude that artificial and honey bee pollination can improve the quality of melon fruits. In addition, honey bee can provide a better pollination service compared with artificial pollination for melons grown under protected cultivation systems.

Effect of Honey Bees Pollination on Egyptian Clover Seed Yield

Pollination behaviour and extent of self-incompatibility were studied in Egyptian clover, an important fodder legume cultivated in Egypt. The effect of pollination mode on quantitative and qualitative parameters of Egyptian clover seed yield has been studied at Gemmiza Research Station during 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 winter seasons. Maximum seed setting percentage (80.5%) was recorded with first hybrid Carniolan bees pollination and 6 frame colony (BP – six f) followed by frame colony (BP- four F) with seed setting percentage (73.1 %) and two frame colony (BP-two F) with seed setting percentage (71.6%). Maximum seed yield (2346.6 seeds) was observed with treatment BP- 6 F followed by BP- 4 F (2250.0 seeds ) and BP – 2 F(1826.6 seeds). Still the lowest seed yield was found with the without insect pollination (WIP) treatment. Also, minimum 1000 – seed weight with WIP was observed (2.56g). The 1000 seed weight of BP – four F, six F and BPtwo F were 3.56, 3.30, 3.80g, respectively. The highest seed germination percentage (95.7%) was recorded with BP– six F and the lowest germination percentage (38.5 %) was found with WIP.

Role of Honey Bee Pollination in Quality Seed Production of Cauliflower for Scalingup of Livelihood in Vaishali District of Bihar

An On farm trial was conducted at KrishiVigyan Kendra, Vaishali, Bihar to study the impact of planned honeybee pollination on the seed production and quality of Cauliflower seeds as well as pollination behavior of Apis mellifera. More number of bees were found visiting the crop under net house condition (6.05 , 5.35, 5.05 bees/plant at all the three locations of traditionally seed producing Hariharpur, Rajapakar and Chakwaravillages of Vaishali district.Bees in the open conditions were found to spend less time on flower as compared to the net house conditions. Honeybees played an important role in enhancing the seed production of cauliflower at all location under study. Planned honeybee pollination was found to result maximum impact on the seed production seeds/pod in the range of 15.50-19.10 seeds/pod in net pollination as compared to 13.60-17.20 seeds/pod in open condition. Similarly, average 1000 seed wt. in net pollinated condition was 3.30-4.19 gm whereas 3.00- 3.97 gm in open field condition, and the yield in net condition was in range 534-637 kg/ha with additional income of 14 to 17 lakh rupees per hectare.

Comparative Study of Wall Bee and Honeybee Pollination Characteristics in Cotton Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Lines

Comparative Study of Wall Bee and Honeybee Pollination Characteristics in Cotton Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Lines

Effect of honey bee pollination and curd scooping on seed yield of cauliflower

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of honey bee pollination and curd scooping on seed production of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) cv. ‘Poushali’. Eighteen combinations of treatments comprising three types of pollination viz., open pollination (natural pollination), using bees for pollination inside net (planned pollination) and plants inside net without bees (control) and six kinds of curd scooping viz., 25%, 50% and 75% of curd cutting, cross curd cutting, central curd cutting and no curd cutting (control). Honey bee (Apis cerana L.) was used as pollinator. Seed yield and yield attributes were significantly influenced by both factors and their combinations. Central curd cutting influenced early flowering and siliqua maturity compared to other curd cutting treatments. Planned honey bee pollination was found to inflict maximum impact on the seed production of cauliflower with an increase in seed yield of 45.46% and 23.17% higher over plants grown inside net without bees and open pollination, respectively. Central curd scooping increased 26.52% higher yield than that of no curd cutting treatment. Planned bee pollination and central curd cutting independently as well as in combination gave the maximum yield attributes of seed viz., primary and secondary flower stalks/plant, number of siliquas/plant, length of siliqua, number of seeds/siliqua,1000 seed weight, seed yield and seed germination percent of cauliflower. Planned pollination coupled with central curd cutting gave the maximum seed yield of 607.43 kg/ha in cauliflower.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 41(2): 251-258, June 2016

Comparing the pollination services of honey bees and wild bees in a watermelon field

Field studies of pollination services of honey bees and wild bees were carried out at a watermelon crop in western Crete. Specifically, pollination treatment by honey bee or mining bee species was applied to female flowers of a watermelon plant. There were also three other treatments; a no-visit treatment, an open-pollinated treatment and a ‘hand’ pollination treatment. Comparisons were based on the number of single bee visits to treated flowers, fruit abortion rates, seed sets as influenced by bee type and the quality characteristics of the developed fruit. The main representative genus of wild bees in the studied area was Lasioglossum. Whilst it was possible that a single visit from either bee type effected pollination, wild bees needed a significantly lower mean number of visits to effect pollination than honey bees. In particular they spent three times as long at each flower compared to Apis mellifera. None of the studied quality characteristics of the developed watermelon fruits (mean weight, brix, number of seeds per fruit and weight of seed) differed significantly for both tested pollinators. The current study provides theoretical and practical evidence to the growers of watermelon crop of the existence of alternative pollinator species that can be targeted for development and management because of their high pollination efficiencies. Therefore the results support the hypothesis that the native bee community can provide an equivalent service to that of managed honey bee pollinators for watermelon, a crop that has heavy pollination requirements.

Decision support system for temperature monitoring in beehives

European honeybee colonies are the most important pollinator insects and source of honey and other useful products. Honeybee colonies today face new diseases and pests as well as pollution which threaten their survival and endanger whole food production which relies on honey bee pollination. Internet of Things (IoT) technology enables integration of wireless sensors inside beehives to enable remote monitoring of various beehive parameters from remote location using Internet. Detection of certain critical events in beehive is hard to be explicitly program due to complex dependence between multiple input parameters. Machine learning algorithms give computers the ability to learn to detect these events without being explicitly programmed. Detection of these event from streams of data collected from IoT sensors is possible using Complex Event Processing (CEP) which applies machine induced knowledge do detect and warn beekeepers about certain events in beehive.

OBSERVAÇÕES SOBRE A POLINIZAÇÃO DE MELÃO (Cucumis melo L.) CULTIVADO EM ESTUFA

OBSERVAÇÕES SOBRE A POLINIZAÇÃO DE MELÃO (Cucumis melo L.) CULTIVADO EM ESTUFA

Foraging behavior and honey production of Apismellifera L.

Honeybee, Apismellifera L. was reared and maintained in bee box and placed in around Bangladesh Agricultural University campus in Mymensingh to study its life cycle, behaviour, pollen gathering activity, honey production and its effect on yield of mustard. There was no relationship between sunrises, sunset, first out from the box and last entrance into the box. But positive relationship was found with day temperature to first out and last entrance. The highest number of bees collected pollen in the 3rd week of March. Maximum pollen gathering activities were found at 12.00 to 1.00 p.m. The highest amount of honey production was 4.00 kg per box in mustard and there was positive correlation between percent pollen gathering activity and honey production. The highest number of queen cell was found in the month of March. The results showed that honey bee pollination had significant effect on increase in all the plant parameters and yield.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2015, 1(2): 359-366

Qualitative and Quantitative Impact of Honeybee Pollination on Apple Production in Shimla Hills of Himachal Pradesh, India

Qualitative and Quantitative Impact of Honeybee Pollination on Apple Production in Shimla Hills of Himachal Pradesh, India

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Study was conducted to test the efficacy of the honeybees in the production of sunflower seeds. This experiment was conducted in Complete Randomized Block Design in the cropping season of 20112012 at Sinnar region, Sudan. Three different patterns of pollination i.e. pollination with honey bee (H), open pollination (O) and control without pollination (C) were tested for the seed set in sun flower. Each treatments contains twenty (20) plants. Results of study revealed significant differences among the tested pollination pattern. Among these highest seed set ratios (80% and 79%) were obtained in the open (O) and honey bee (H) pollination system. While only 45.2% seed set was reported in the control (C) where plants kept in closed system and away from insect pollination. Furthermore, the mean seeds weights per head (27.65g and 26.88g) were also reported higher in open and honey bee pollinated system and it was 162.3% and 155% higher than the control respectively. Similar types of trends was reported in the weight parameters of hundred seeds, the superiority was shown by open and honey bee pollination. This weight was 52% and 45% higher than the control treatment (C) respectively. Therefore, the results of the study revealed that use of honeybees as pollinator for sunflower can contribute in hybrid seed production in better manner.

Pollination services from field-scale agricultural diversification may be context-dependent

Diversification of field edges is widely used as a strategy to augment pollinator populations and, in turn, supplement crop pollination needs. Hedgerow plantings, a commonly applied field-scale diversification technique, have been shown to increase wild bee richness within edges and into crop fields; however, their effects on pollination services in mass-flowering, pollinator-dependent crops typical of large-scale commercial monocultures are less well-known. We evaluated the indirect contribution of hedgerows to sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seed set vis-á-vis wild bee abundance and the interaction between wild bees and managed honey bee pollinators. Although wild bee species richness and the interaction between wild and managed pollinators were significantly associated with augmented seed set, these factors were unrelated to whether a hedgerow was present. The pollinator species foraging within crop fields differed significantly from those found within adjacent hedgerows and bare or weedy field edges, with hedgerows supporting higher species richness than crop fields or unenhanced edges. However, in an independent data set, greater numbers of sunflower-pollinating bees were found in hedgerows than in control edges. Hedgerows may therefore help these crop-pollinating species persist in the landscape. Our findings suggest that hedgerows may not always simultaneously achieve crop pollination and wild bee conservation goals; instead, the benefits of hedgerows may be crop- and region-specific. We recommend evaluation of hedgerow benefits in a variety of crop and landscape contexts to improve their ability to meet ecosystem-service provisioning needs.

To bee, or not to bee? Honey bees, Boolean logic, bits and information

What would happen if the honey bee disappeared from the face of the earth? Honey bees do not just produce the honey and wax we use every day; they serve the vitally important function of pollination, in which pollen is moved from one plant to another for fertilisation. 70 of the 100 crop species which provide 90% of food worldwide are pollinated by bees. The value of honey bee pollination to the global economy (€153 billion annually) now vastly outstrips the value of honey and beeswax combined. As the human population worldwide continues to grow, the demand for pollinator dependant crops will continue to increase proportionally. It is safe to say that the disappearance of the honey bee would pose a global crisis for humanity. In the past few years there has been a renewed buzz about the plight of the honey bee. A range of honey bee pests and ...